Linda’s Letters

Dust Bunnies

We love our house in Cave Creek, Az. It has high ceilings, big windows, lots of light, beautiful landscaping and everywhere you look, a glimpse of our Sonoran Desert. The ten years that we have lived here, I have not regretted one moment of living here.

The casita that I put my dubs on for a studio, however, was a bit of a problem. It had southern exposure. Yes, I had a large picture window in front of my easel, but nonetheless I was dealing with south light. Luckily, there were several trees already planted in the area which did give me some shade. I called a landscaper, and we designed an area in front of my window that would not only cut down on the south light, but the various bushes and plants we choose would attract the birds and animals. We added a lovely big fountain, lots of shrubs, and more trees. I call it the Budge sanctuary. Every morning, I take out several large scoops of bird seed and scatter it in the sanctuary. My efforts have paid off. I have dozens of birds that visit every day. We are often entertained by the local bobcat, a bunch of coyotes, deer and javelina. I’ve put a hex on mountain lion. It’s the perfect solution for a wildlife artist such as myself. I draw a lot of inspiration from my special “south” window.